Half to lucy a



(No Model.)

O. P. OALLAHAN.

MAIL BAG FASTENING.

Patented Jan.6, 1891.

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morn-L rum, wAsu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OWVEN P. CALLAHAN, OF SPOKANE FALLS, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-' HALF TO LUCY A. SIMMS, OF SAME PLACE.

MAIL-BAG FASTENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,289, dated January 6, 1891.

Application filed October 17, 1890. Serial No. 368,383. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OWEN P. CALLAHAN, of Spokane Falls, in the county of Spokane and State of Vashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The invention has for its object the improvement of fastening devices for mail-bags; and it consists in the several details of construction hereinafter fully set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a mail-bag (shown closed) having my improved fastening applied thereto. Fig. 2 isa top View showing the bag open. Fig. 3 is a section through the line 0c 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a top View showing the bag closed, but with the hasp and top plates turned over to permit of opening.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures.

A represents the bag.

B, O, D, and E show the side plates, made, preferably, of malleable steel, and to which the bag Ais secured in any suitable manner. These plates are hinged together, as indicated at a a b b. The plates B and D are of equal length, as are also the plates 0 and E; but the latter are longer than the former in order that when the bag is closed (see Fig. 4.) the joints at b b will not be opposite each other.

F and G are top plates having flanges f and g, respectively. The plate F is somewhat longer than the plate B, to which it is hinged, while the plate G is a little shorter than the plate 0, to which it is pivoted, so that when the bag is closed the joint formed by the plates F and G will be between the two joints 1) b, as shown in Fig. 4. To the top of the plate G is secured a small plate g, to which is hinged a hasp H, adapted, when the bag is closed, to fit over the staple I on the plate E. The flanges f and 9 do not extend to the ends of their respective plates, thus leaving a space, into which the hasp H enters when the bag is closed, thus fitting snugly against the plate E. The plate 9 projects a short distance beyond the end of the plate G, as shownin Fig. 2. The end of the plate G is undercut, as

seen at h, and the end of the plate F beveled, as represented at i, Fig. 2.

hen the bag is closed, the beveled end of the plate F will fit into the recess formed by the undercut end of the plate G and the projecting portion of the plate g, the ends of the two plates interlocking, and the plates may be turned together on their hinges so long as they remain in a straight line or while the bag is closed. lVhen, however, the bag is opened, the joined ends of the plates F and G will separate, as shown in Fig. 2.

lVhile from the foregoing description the operation of the device will be easily understood, it may be briefly stated as follows: Suppose the bag to be open, as shown in Fig. 2. Now in order to close it the side plates D and E must be pushed toward the side plates B and O, or vice versa, until they have assumed the posit-ion shown in Fig. 4E. The ends 11 and h of the plates F and G will then have interlocked so as to occupy the position shown in Fig. 4. The plates F and G can now be turned on their hinges, both plates moving together practically as one plate, and the hasp H closed over the staple I, where it may be secured by any suitable locking device. By reversing this operation the bag may be opened.

It will be observed that all joints are bro- 8o ken and the fastening device when closed is absolutely rigid, the hasp H and the flanges on the top plates holding the side plates firmly in position. 7

By nice fitting this fastening can be made 8 5 dirt and water proof.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a fastening for mail-bags, a quadrangular jointed frame consisting of two pairs of side plates of unequal length, adapted, when folded together, to break joints, combined with a top plate hinged to two of said side plates and having a flange fitting over the other two side plates, and a locking device, substantially as specified.

2. In a fastening for mail-bags, a quadrangular jointed frame consisting of two pairs of side plates of unequal length, adapted, when folded together, to break joints, combined with a top plate in two sections, one section 100 being hinged to one of the shorter side plates and the other section to one of the longer side plates, the two sections being adapted, when the bag" is closed, to form a joint intermediate of the joints formed by the side plates, a flange on said top plate adapted to fit over the other two side plates, and a locking device, substantially as specified.

3. In a fastening for mail-bags, a quadrangular jointed frame, combined with a flanged top plate in two sections, a small plate attached to one of the said sections and projecting beyond its end, the end of the section carrying the small plate being undercut and the end of the other section beveled, whereby when the bag is closed the adjacent ends of the two sections will interlock, substantially as specified.

4:. In a fastening for inai1-bags,a quadrangular jointed frame, combined with a top plate in two sections hinged to two of the sides of said frame, the adjaeentends of said sections interlocking when the bag is closed, a flange on each of said sections, said flanges being cut away 11031 the interlocking, ends of the sections, a small plate fastened to one of the sections and adapted to overlap the end of the other section, a hasp hinged to the small plate and adapted to fit in the space formed by cntting'away the said flanges, and a staple with which said hasp engages, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.

()VVEN P. CALLAHAN. [L. s] Vitnesses:

W. E. DRURY,

J. KENNEDY STOUT. 

